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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Michael McFadden on DEP Air and Noise Inspectors
4:27:12
ยท
141 sec
Michael McFadden, a former NYPD detective, testified in support of increasing pay and numbers of air and noise inspectors at the DEP. He criticized the DEP's treatment of citizens who report air quality violations and highlighted the effectiveness of citizen-reported camera violations in improving air quality in New York City.
- McFadden emphasized that citizen-reported violations have surpassed those issued by enforcement agencies in the past year.
- He pointed out that all citizen-reported violations are camera-based and reviewed by the DEP before approval.
- McFadden called for more outreach by the DEP to expand citizen participation in reporting violations, especially in environmental justice communities.
Michael McFadden
4:27:12
I am.
4:27:12
Thank you.
Lincoln Restler
4:27:13
Hear you.
4:27:13
Go for it.
Michael McFadden
4:27:15
I'm supporting an increase in pay and numbers of air and noise inspectors at the DEP.
4:27:22
I was a thirty year employee of the police department where I was, designated a first grade detective in recognition of my hard work.
4:27:32
It's disheartening for me to hear how the, particularly the DEP continues to malign citizens that are very dedicated to improving the air quality here in New York City.
4:27:49
In the fifty years since the law has passed, all enforcement agencies in the City Of New York have not issued the amount of violations that the citizens have in just the past year.
4:28:04
If any agency in New York City increased enforcement on a level that the citizens have here in New York, the head of that agency would be up for international recognition to the improvements, to improving the environment.
4:28:25
I'd also like to add that all of these violations made by the citizens are camera violations.
4:28:32
These recordings are reviewed by the DEP before they are approved and, ultimately result in a violation.
4:28:43
We love noise cameras here in New York City.
4:28:46
We love the speed camera enforcement here in New York City.
4:28:49
But when it's a camera violation recorded and re by a citizen, there seems to be some disconnect.
4:28:58
As far as reporting environmental justice communities, I myself have issued many violations in environmental justice communities.
4:29:06
And the real issue that DEP should be brought to task for is that there is no outreach to expand this program other than these few exceptional citizens that are largely responsible for these complaints.
4:29:22
If the DEP wants more violations in the community, they should be doing outreach and encouraging citizens to participate, and this is not taking place.